Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Each time I make this lemon poppy seed dressing, I’m amazed at the amount of flavor that comes from such a short ingredients list. It’s the BEST lemon poppy seed dressing I’ve ever had! For many years, my mother-in-law had me on the hunt for a really great poppy seed dressing recipe. And I’m happy to say I’ve finally reached that goal. This dressing is so incredibly fresh and flavorful, with just the perfect lightly thickened consistency.

I like to drizzle this bright lemon dressing over a big bowl of greens and berries, and then serve it with some heavenly warm popovers and cinnamon honey butter. It’s pretty wonderful with a fresh strawberry salad, too.

What You’ll Need

This recipe should get an award (she says, humbly). But truly, it delivers big-time flavor with very few ingredients! Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements.

• Extra-virgin olive oil – My general rule of thumb with salad dressings is to choose a good-quality olive oil. You’ll taste the difference!
• Honey – This adds the perfect amount of sweetness to balance the lemon’s acidity. You could also use granulated sugar.
• Lemon juice & zest – Lemon is the star of the show. The juice creates a bright, fresh flavor base for this dressing, while fresh zest ensures even more lemon flavor. Zest the lemon first, and then juice it. It’s much easier this way!
• Yellow onion – I like to add a little minced onion for flavor and texture. Shallot would also work nicely. If you’d like, soak the chopped onion in cold water for 15 minutes to mellow out the sharp onion flavor.
• Dijon mustard – Dijon adds a depth of flavor and a creamy quality; it’s a favorite ingredient in many of my salad dressing recipes.
• Poppy seeds – Or is THIS the star of the show?! Chia seeds make a good stand-in for poppy seeds here if you need one.

How To Make Poppy Seed Dressing, Two Ways

This recipe is super duper easy to make! There’s the option to make this with or without the blender, as a creamier dressing or as a lemon poppy seed vinaigrette.

Creamy Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Blitzing smooths out the little bits of onion and lemon zest. It also brings all the ingredients together and causes the dressing to thicken and emulsify, which means it’ll be creamy and won’t separate. That being said, you’ll probably still want to give the dressing a vigorous shake or a good stir after storing it in the fridge and before using it.

1. Add all ingredients to a quart jar. You could also use a small-ish bowl with tall sides.
2. Blitz ingredients. Use an immersion blender to blitz until smooth and thickened. You could also use a blender or food processor.

Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

It’s definitely not a requirement to blitz this dressing. Sometimes I do. Sometimes I don’t! If you’d prefer more of a lemon poppy seed vinaigrette, then simply skip the blitzing.

1. Combine. Add all the ingredients to a jar or small bowl.
2. Whisk or mix well. Seal tightly and shake vigorously or whisk well to combine.

The dressing will have a thinner consistency and a clearer appearance. You will also have small bits of onion and lemon zest. So, if you don’t want big chunks, mince the onion very finely. Also, know that with this method, the ingredients will settle when stored in the fridge. You will need to shake or stir it to reincorporate before each use. (If vinaigrette dressings are your jam, you might also love this Italian vinaigrette.)

Ways To Serve This Poppy Seed Dressing

This lemon poppyseed dressing is extremely versatile, and it always starts with some fresh greens. Here are a few delicious ideas for you to create the salad of your dreams!

• Choose your favorite greens. Depending on the season and what I’m in the mood for, I like to change up the greens. Most often, I use a spring mix, tender butter lettuce, or peppery arugula.
• With berries for spring & summer. This bright dressing begs to be enjoyed with sweet seasonal berries.
• Greens, apples, and pomegranate arils for winter and the holidays. During the cold winter months, lemon poppy seed dressing adds a burst of sunshine to the table. It pairs beautifully with wintertime fruits such as apples and pomegranates. Do check out my winter apple salad recipe!
• Add a protein. To create a main entree salad with this dressing, simply add some cooked, sliced chicken or steak, or some salmon.
• Throw in some nuts. I love some salty, crunchy nuts with most any salad. Think about cashews, pecans, or almonds. Candied pecans are especially fun and delicious!
• Include some cheese. Cheese adds texture and flavor, and there are so many choices. My favorites include crumbled goat cheese or feta, shaved Parmesan, and shredded Monterey Jack.
• Serve with popovers or bread. It’s fun to have some warm bread when eating a fresh salad, to sop up all the delicious tidbits. Sometimes I warm up a loaf of crusty sourdough or soft Italian bread. Croissants are super lovely, fitting for a special ladies’ brunch or lunch.
• Offer a flavored butter. You’ll be the hostess with the mostest when you make flavored butter to go with the salad’s bread. Try blueberry, lemon & vanilla bean, or cinnamon honey.

How to Store It

• Refrigerate. I store my homemade lemon poppy seed dressing in a glass jar with a lid. It keeps well in the fridge for up to one week.